Littlejohn Law LLC - September 2020

Littlejohn Law LLC - September 2020

WWW.LITTLEJOHNLAWLLC.COM

740-314-4829

9/20

BUILD IT. PROTECT IT. PRESERVE IT.

Labor Day is a time to celebrate the teams we have the privilege of being part of in our workplaces, and I absolutely intend to celebrate each member of the Littlejohn Law team before I finish writing this article. However, in honor of another, lesser-known holiday in September, National Grandparents Day, I thought I would also celebrate some of the members of the first “team” I was a part of — my family. I’m very fortunate to have had four grandparents who were actively involved in my upbringing and who encouraged me in several parts of my life. For starters, there was grandpa Frank, my dad's father, passed away in 1994, but what I do remember about him is that he was proud of what he did. He was an assistant fire chief for the city of Steubenville. Then there was my grandpa Bob, Bob Harris. Before he passed away in 2016, I remember how he seemed to be one of the nicest guys out there. No matter where he went, he had a friend who was happy to see him. His wish for me and my cousins was that we would be good to people. Then one day, we would have as many friends as he did. Probably the best advice I ever received from my grandpa Brown, my mother's father, was that I should speak and argue with the same zeal I had while I practiced my martial arts. He passed away in 2012. I never fully understood what he meant by "zeal," but because of his words I now enter every FOR LABOR DAY AND NATIONAL GRANDPARENTS DAY CELEBRATING THE ‘TEAMS’ I’VE BEEN PART OF

courtroom ready to speak like I'm meant to be there and fight like a zealous advocate for my clients.

Both of my grandmas are still alive today and continue to influence both me and my family. My grandma Jean always made sure I remembered I shouldn’t “take nothing” from anyone when I was growing up, and that I should always stand up for what I believe in, even if I have to stand alone. My grandma Brown has been, and continues to be, one of my biggest cheerleaders. Whether it was for karate, football, or something else while I was growing up, or my important cases now, she never stops believing in my ability to “figure it all out.” I love the ways that my grandparents have prepared me to be a member of the team I’m now on at Littlejohn Law, and I want to make sure the team knows how much I appreciate the hard work they put in every day. The strengths and skills that each brings to the office every day might as well be superpowers, as far as I’m concerned. Jeff’s superpower is what I sometimes call “deep work.” He’s meticulous and thorough in everything he does, and no one can top him in that. Nicole’s power is execution. If we need to get something done and done now, Nicole is my go-to person for the job. Megan’s power is identifying hiccups in our systems and processes. She can look at the big picture and iron out the kinks better than anyone I know. Angela, however, has a superpowered attention to detail. She ensures all the t’s are crossed and the i’s are dotted. Combined, each of their superpowers make Littlejohn Law run like a well-oiled machine. I’m more thankful for this team than I could ever describe, and I’m grateful for everyone who has helped me help our clients and achieve my goals, whether they were on my first team or the team I’m a part of now.

–Edward Littlejohn

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WITH A SPECIAL NEEDS TRUST PROTECT BENEFITS AND PROVIDE FOR YOUR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD

Children and adults with special needs often qualify for some form of government support. Whether it is Social Security Disability or Medicaid, these benefits are essential to meet the basic needs of someone with physical or cognitive disabilities. In some cases, these benefits are awarded based on the person's financial need. In these situations, the recipient could lose their benefits if they suddenly come into money — for example, through an inheritance. If you want to provide for a loved one with special needs who is on government benefits, one option for doing so is creating a special needs trust. WHAT DOES A SPECIAL NEEDS TRUST DO? Whether you want to make sure a child with special needs is taken care of after your incapacitation or death, or you want to enhance their quality of life now, a special needs trust is one of the essential estate planning documents you should have. When you put money into this particular type of estate planning tool, the trustee can use the funds to enhance the beneficiary's quality of life without jeopardizing their government benefits. While government assistance covers medical care, food, and housing, money from a special needs trust can be used for expenses such as: • Paying for a personal care attendant • Covering out-of-pocket medical expenses • Purchasing a state-of-the-art wheelchair or other assistive devices • Paying for medical transportation services to get to appointments • Providing technology such as computers or communication aides • Covering the cost of special educational programs

• Funding travel, entertainment, athletic competition, and other life-enhancing activities • As long as the money from the trust is not used to pay for basic care, your loved one will not lose access to important need- based benefits. WHEN CAN THE BENEFICIARY ACCESS THE FUNDS? The person who sets up a special needs trust is known as the grantor. The grantor names a trustee to oversee the distribution of funds. If you are the grantor and you name yourself as the trustee, you can access the funds during your lifetime to pay for whatever the beneficiary needs, as long as it is not a basic need covered by government benefits. If the trust is set up to go into effect after the death of the grantor, a reliable third-party trustee will be named to manage the funds for the beneficiary. WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SPECIAL NEEDS TRUSTS? A special needs trust is a powerful tool for supporting a disabled loved one. Call Littlejohn Law to talk to our estate planning team about how you can help your child with special needs now and in the future.

LOCAL BUSINESS PROFILE

The Pest Detective — with fall right around the corner, this is a great time to make sure all your cracks and seals have been treated to prevent pests from entering your home. If you want effective pest control, call The Pest Detective 740-317-0230.

2 | 740-314-4829 This newsletter is for informational purposes only and no legal advice is intended. Be sure to consult with this law firm if you have a specific question about your situation. And remember, Edward and Jeff don’t take any unplanned inbound telephone or in-person meetings. We believe each case deserves our undivided attention.

SEE WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT US! “Excellent quality, value and responsiveness. Attorney Littlejohn and Nicole are very professional. They explained the whole process of estate planning in simple terms, always asking us what we wanted and telling us what we needed. Appreciated the whole process. We are very comforted in knowing we have all the documents needed for the future.” –Nancy and Rick S.

WHAT’S NEWWITH ME AND MY OWN?

It’s hard to believe that the summer’s all wrapped up and we are getting ready for the fall. Looking back, this summer, like most summers, was filled with lots of fun and memories. Kyzlee is enjoying her unicorn water-sprayer birthday gift, while Courage lounges in her castle. Jeff and Nicole do some rearranging in the office. Jeff’s getting out of the way so Nicole can get the job done. In Jeff’s defense, he had just gotten out of court. Where’s the rest of the team? They are organizing and cleaning up the office, so that we can keep moving forward and serving clients.

EASY STUFFED SWEET POTATOES

Inspired by EatingWell.com

Who says a loaded potato has to clog your arteries? In this healthy version that serves four, a sweet potato base is topped with fiber-rich bean salsa. INGREDIENTS

• 4 medium sweet potatoes • 1 15-oz can black beans, drained and rinsed • 2 medium tomatoes, diced • 1 tbsp olive oil

• 1 tsp cumin • 1 tsp coriander • 3/4 tsp salt • 1/4 cup sour cream • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

DIRECTIONS

1. With a fork, prick each sweet potato a few times. Microwave the potatoes on high 12–15 minutes, or until cooked through. 2. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the beans, tomatoes, olive oil, cumin, coriander, and salt. When the potatoes are done, microwave the mixture on high for 2–3 minutes. 3. Cool potatoes slightly, then cut each potato open lengthwise. Pull the halves apart to create space to spoon the warm bean salsa inside. 4. Add a scoop of sour cream to each potato, garnish with cilantro, and serve!

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352 FRANK LAYMAN BLVD. WINTERSVILLE, OH 43953

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

1

CELEBRATING THE ‘TEAMS’ I’VE BEEN PART OF

2

A SPECIAL NEEDS TRUST: CONSIDER THE BENEFITS

LOCAL BUSINESS PROFILE

3

WHAT’S NEWWITH ME AND MY OWN

SEE WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT US!

EASY STUFFED SWEET POTATOES

4

STREAMING SERVICES CHANGE ENTERTAINMENT ENJOY YOUR FAVORITE FILMS EARLIER Streaming Services Change the Face of Entertainment

The way we watch our favorite shows and movies has changed drastically in recent years and even more so this year. With the pandemic impacting the world, people found themselves stuck inside their homes looking for new sources of entertainment, and many found exactly what they were looking for through the numerous streaming services available to us. The pandemic made time for people to watch their favorite shows again and again, and it also changed the way businesses, such as Disney and Universal Studios, release their movies. Throughout the spring, many movies were released early and some skipped theater showings all together. “Trolls: World Tour” was released through video-on-demand and earned nearly $100 million in rental fees on its April 10 debut, grossing far more than the first “Trolls” movie debut in 2016. On a side note Kyzlee and I have watched both Trolls movies at least a half dozen times. Other movies, such as “Onward” and “Frozen II,” were released early on different digital platforms for purchase or rent.

of people to the theater since its debut in 2015. A stage performance of “Hamilton” was filmed in 2016 in just over three days. The resulting movie creates an opportunity for everyone to see the show, whether or not they were able to catch it live on stage. Disney bought the rights to the film last year and announced this February that it would be released on Oct. 15, 2021, in theaters. However, due to the pandemic, Disney decided that what people needed most was something they could enjoy, even if they couldn't leave their homes. On May 12, the studio announced the film would be available to stream on Disney+ starting on the July Fourth holiday. “Hamilton” fans and those who’ve never seen the play are thrilled to watch the film 16 months in advance of the originally scheduled release. Streaming services have changed how people consume their entertainment, and the pandemic has changed how streaming services offer it. Both changes are helping people get through these difficult times.

One of the most anticipated early releases under this new system is “Hamilton.” This hit Broadway show has drawn thousands

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